Disclaimer: I do not own the teen titans or the words to the song
Ready For The Good Times by Shakira. Thanks you for reviewing. And despite
the fact that this chapter leans almost viciously towards Aqualad/Raven the
main couple will be Robin/Raven just give it time...two or three chapters
maybe for Robin to realise how stupid he's being!
Hand in Hand
Chapter Nineteen: Ready For The Good Times
Raven was nervous, her hands twitched slightly in the mellow shadows of the café. The black leather booth that she was sitting in was warm to the touch and thankfully there was no one else present apart from the cashier and Aqualad who was sitting opposite her, he looked uncertain. She winced internally; she was beginning to wonder if she had done the right thing by coming here with him. She had wanted companionship; she had wanted to tell her troubles to someone and not have to hold back until every detail was out in the open but now...
##I don't want to clear the cobwebs from my head,
Time will bring them back I bet##
She shook her head slightly, maybe she just wasn't ready to tell anyone yet, or maybe it wasn't Aqualad she was supposed to tell. It just didn't feel right. She couldn't deny that he was a good friend and treated her like an actual person but there was something that was a little off. She frowned down at the table top.
"Hey Raven." Said a feminine voice suddenly, "What are you ordering tonight?"
Raven lifted her head slightly and turned her gaze to the tall black haired girl that was now stood by the side of the black painted table with a notepad and pen in hand. The girl smiled back, the pen poised over the paper.
"Oh. Just some Hawthorn Berry tea for me thanks..." her voice trailed off and she wiped her hands quickly even though there as nothing there.
Aqualad saw the nervous gesture but didn't say anything, he turned to the girl, "Just some still water please." He wasn't a big fan of hot caffeine filled drinks.
The girl nodded and then scribbled it down, she looked at Raven for a moment, "You sure about your order Rae?" she asked casually turning away from Aqualad and shoving her pen behind her ear.
Raven stared at her, "Yes." She said in a warning tone.
The girl shrugged, "Okay then. I'll be right back."
Raven stared after the girl as she walked away. What did she mean are you sure about your order? Raven scowled, she'd had that tea before. It was used to sooth nerves and that was what she needed.
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer Rosehip tea?" the girl yelled from behind the counter.
Raven was suddenly glad that she and Aqualad were the only customers...her face flamed in embarrassment. Rosehip tea was used to encourage loving auras and attract lovers. "NO." she replied hotly.
"It's a good harvest this year, a bit sweeter than usual...ergh!" the girl suddenly disappeared into the back on a wave of dark energy.
"I said no." snapped Raven resettling her hands on the table top.
##So if you hear me say that I believe in love,
Don't make me feel so ashamed,
I used to sing the saddest songs##
There was a moment of shuffling and a muttered curse and the girl reappeared, somewhat dishevelled, but carrying a tray with a bottle of water and a cup of steaming tea. She put the tray on the table and took the items off it. She put the tea in front of Raven and thrust the bottle of water at Aqualad. She picked up the tray and held it in front of her like a shield, she had a sour look on her face, "Was there any need for that?" she whispered harshly, "I was only trying to help!"
"Well next time you feel like helping...don't." Raven replied picking up her cup and taking a sip of the amber liquid just to make sure that the girl hadn't put rosehip oil in it by 'accident'. "I can do things well enough on my own."
The girl sniffed slightly but couldn't stop the smile curving onto her face, "Well good for you Rae. He's quite a catch." She winked at Aqualad and then sauntered off back towards the kitchen swinging the tray at her side.
Raven blushed awkwardly and risked a glance at the atlantian. He was staring at her. She shrivelled inside; he probably thought she was a freak. But to her surprise he just smiled good-naturedly back at her.
"I didn't realise you were fishing." He said unscrewing the water that was in his hands.
Raven stared at him, "Huh?"
##While in the meantime roaches used to climb my door,
And then fall back down to the floor,
I used to read survival guides,
When my world was full of seven legged cats,
But here I am with eight more lives##
"Good catch. Fishing." He said shrugging his right shoulder.
"Oh. That was your attempt at humour." Said Raven lifting her eyes to meet his soft gaze.
"Yeah. Marks out of ten?"
"About a three." She said smiling hollowly. It wasn't that she didn't want to smile happily it was just that no matter how far down inside herself she reached; she couldn't seem to find any happiness at all. Maybe Aqualad was someone that could help her without knowing about her problems...after all he was trying to help now...with his really bad joke. She wondered if he's been hanging around Beast Boy too long.
"Damn." He frowned slightly but then the grin was back on his face, "Never mind. I'll try again some other time. So am I?"
Raven scowled at him, "Are you what? Annoying?"
"A good catch." He leaned his elbows on the table and put the bottle on the table before him.
Raven blushed again, why did he have to ask that? Happiness may have flown the coop but embarrassment was still there. "Maybe. I haven't caught you yet." She froze astounded that she had actually said the words that had come from her own lips. She would never ever have said that any other time...never. She put down her tea. She clenched her fists enough to make the knuckles on her hands white. Was she insane? She was beginning to think so...she groaned inwardly...it must be because her timidity had faded. She gulped.
"I..." began Aqualad looking confused.
And with good cause, Raven thought dully looking down ashamed. "Never mind. Forget that I said anything."
"Oh no. You can't get away that easily." He murmured, "Maybe I want to be caught."
Raven snapped her head up quickly and stared at him. His eyes were soft, and he seemed to be telling the truth. Maybe if she read his thoughts...she gently brushed her own mind against his but to her frustration he had put up a mental barrier. She scowled.
"If you want to know what I'm thinking, you need only ask." He said resting his head lightly in his left hand and smiling at her.
##I'm ready for the good times,
Ready for the good times,
Ready to get it on,
I'm ready for the good times,
I'm ready for the good times,
Now that I'm not alone##
She folded her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture, "Alright then. What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that maybe you like me..." he watched her intently, "And I'm thinking that maybe I like you too."
Raven's thoughts suddenly screeched to a halt and collided together, "Wha...what?" she wasn't sure if she liked him enough to want him like that, she frowned, she just wanted companionship, but she didn't know who off... maybe him. She had hoped though it would have been someone else...but that decision wasn't even on the agenda now. This was here and it was right in front of her, friendship, comradeship and possibly more. If only she could convince herself to reach out and take the chance and try and be normal for once.
##I don't want to look at fashion magazines,
While someone does my nails,
Sitting here watching other people live,
Frozen by their fear to fail##
"It's okay to show some emotion now and then Raven. No one's going to give you a hard time about it. I know you feel something for me. And, I just I want you to know that I feel for you too and if you ever need anyone..." he trailed off and ran a hand through his hair, "okay I'm not doing a good job of this. Look Raven I know that you like your privacy and you don't spend that much time with your friends but..." he broke off and frowned, "What I mean to say is...well what I want to say is..."
Raven watched him closely he seemed genuine enough. But was it really what she wanted? Did she really want to be courted like a normal girl would be? What if it didn't help? What if it made things worse? What if...what if...she suddenly realised that there were a lot of what ifs in her life. What if she just took a chance for once? The others would be amazed, but they would understand. Everyone needed someone at some time or another even if only for a little while.
Raven decided to take the chance for once. She reached out her own pale hand and grasped his, his skin felt warm under hers, she noticed that she was trembling but she couldn't stop now. "I know what you mean." She looked up determined to keep eye contact despite the heat spreading to her face, "And I think we should build something from that feeling." She cringed inwardly, her timidity would never allow her to do something this crazy, "We should try being together. See how that works out."
Aqualad stared at her gob smacked as if she had suddenly sprouted eleven heads and announced that she was the goddess of the ocean and that she would grant him three wishes if he would find a dancing eel. In other words he was looking at her with a very strange look on his face. "You want...you want us to be together as partners?"
"Um, yeah." She wondered if her suggestion hadn't been made clearly enough.
"I thought so." His other hand closed around hers, "Raven I have no idea what has brought on this sudden shift in your mood and emotions...but I am glad that it has occurred."
"Is that a yes?"
"That's a yes."
##Because everyday there's a war to fight,
But if I win or lose never mind,
As long as you're my shelter every night,
I used to cry against a wall,
But now I've got a shoulder I can lean on,
Swear to me you won't be gone##
They sat there in silence for a moment, "Sooo...." Said Aqualad looking out of the window, "What do we do now?"
"I have no clue." Raven looked to her left and saw the girl who had taken their order peeking out from the kitchen a cheeky grin on her face. When she noticed Raven's glare she gave her a thumbs up and disappeared into the back with a swish of her apron.
##I'm ready for the good times,
I'm ready for the good times,
Now that I'm not alone##
Hand in Hand
Chapter Nineteen: Ready For The Good Times
Raven was nervous, her hands twitched slightly in the mellow shadows of the café. The black leather booth that she was sitting in was warm to the touch and thankfully there was no one else present apart from the cashier and Aqualad who was sitting opposite her, he looked uncertain. She winced internally; she was beginning to wonder if she had done the right thing by coming here with him. She had wanted companionship; she had wanted to tell her troubles to someone and not have to hold back until every detail was out in the open but now...
##I don't want to clear the cobwebs from my head,
Time will bring them back I bet##
She shook her head slightly, maybe she just wasn't ready to tell anyone yet, or maybe it wasn't Aqualad she was supposed to tell. It just didn't feel right. She couldn't deny that he was a good friend and treated her like an actual person but there was something that was a little off. She frowned down at the table top.
"Hey Raven." Said a feminine voice suddenly, "What are you ordering tonight?"
Raven lifted her head slightly and turned her gaze to the tall black haired girl that was now stood by the side of the black painted table with a notepad and pen in hand. The girl smiled back, the pen poised over the paper.
"Oh. Just some Hawthorn Berry tea for me thanks..." her voice trailed off and she wiped her hands quickly even though there as nothing there.
Aqualad saw the nervous gesture but didn't say anything, he turned to the girl, "Just some still water please." He wasn't a big fan of hot caffeine filled drinks.
The girl nodded and then scribbled it down, she looked at Raven for a moment, "You sure about your order Rae?" she asked casually turning away from Aqualad and shoving her pen behind her ear.
Raven stared at her, "Yes." She said in a warning tone.
The girl shrugged, "Okay then. I'll be right back."
Raven stared after the girl as she walked away. What did she mean are you sure about your order? Raven scowled, she'd had that tea before. It was used to sooth nerves and that was what she needed.
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer Rosehip tea?" the girl yelled from behind the counter.
Raven was suddenly glad that she and Aqualad were the only customers...her face flamed in embarrassment. Rosehip tea was used to encourage loving auras and attract lovers. "NO." she replied hotly.
"It's a good harvest this year, a bit sweeter than usual...ergh!" the girl suddenly disappeared into the back on a wave of dark energy.
"I said no." snapped Raven resettling her hands on the table top.
##So if you hear me say that I believe in love,
Don't make me feel so ashamed,
I used to sing the saddest songs##
There was a moment of shuffling and a muttered curse and the girl reappeared, somewhat dishevelled, but carrying a tray with a bottle of water and a cup of steaming tea. She put the tray on the table and took the items off it. She put the tea in front of Raven and thrust the bottle of water at Aqualad. She picked up the tray and held it in front of her like a shield, she had a sour look on her face, "Was there any need for that?" she whispered harshly, "I was only trying to help!"
"Well next time you feel like helping...don't." Raven replied picking up her cup and taking a sip of the amber liquid just to make sure that the girl hadn't put rosehip oil in it by 'accident'. "I can do things well enough on my own."
The girl sniffed slightly but couldn't stop the smile curving onto her face, "Well good for you Rae. He's quite a catch." She winked at Aqualad and then sauntered off back towards the kitchen swinging the tray at her side.
Raven blushed awkwardly and risked a glance at the atlantian. He was staring at her. She shrivelled inside; he probably thought she was a freak. But to her surprise he just smiled good-naturedly back at her.
"I didn't realise you were fishing." He said unscrewing the water that was in his hands.
Raven stared at him, "Huh?"
##While in the meantime roaches used to climb my door,
And then fall back down to the floor,
I used to read survival guides,
When my world was full of seven legged cats,
But here I am with eight more lives##
"Good catch. Fishing." He said shrugging his right shoulder.
"Oh. That was your attempt at humour." Said Raven lifting her eyes to meet his soft gaze.
"Yeah. Marks out of ten?"
"About a three." She said smiling hollowly. It wasn't that she didn't want to smile happily it was just that no matter how far down inside herself she reached; she couldn't seem to find any happiness at all. Maybe Aqualad was someone that could help her without knowing about her problems...after all he was trying to help now...with his really bad joke. She wondered if he's been hanging around Beast Boy too long.
"Damn." He frowned slightly but then the grin was back on his face, "Never mind. I'll try again some other time. So am I?"
Raven scowled at him, "Are you what? Annoying?"
"A good catch." He leaned his elbows on the table and put the bottle on the table before him.
Raven blushed again, why did he have to ask that? Happiness may have flown the coop but embarrassment was still there. "Maybe. I haven't caught you yet." She froze astounded that she had actually said the words that had come from her own lips. She would never ever have said that any other time...never. She put down her tea. She clenched her fists enough to make the knuckles on her hands white. Was she insane? She was beginning to think so...she groaned inwardly...it must be because her timidity had faded. She gulped.
"I..." began Aqualad looking confused.
And with good cause, Raven thought dully looking down ashamed. "Never mind. Forget that I said anything."
"Oh no. You can't get away that easily." He murmured, "Maybe I want to be caught."
Raven snapped her head up quickly and stared at him. His eyes were soft, and he seemed to be telling the truth. Maybe if she read his thoughts...she gently brushed her own mind against his but to her frustration he had put up a mental barrier. She scowled.
"If you want to know what I'm thinking, you need only ask." He said resting his head lightly in his left hand and smiling at her.
##I'm ready for the good times,
Ready for the good times,
Ready to get it on,
I'm ready for the good times,
I'm ready for the good times,
Now that I'm not alone##
She folded her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture, "Alright then. What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that maybe you like me..." he watched her intently, "And I'm thinking that maybe I like you too."
Raven's thoughts suddenly screeched to a halt and collided together, "Wha...what?" she wasn't sure if she liked him enough to want him like that, she frowned, she just wanted companionship, but she didn't know who off... maybe him. She had hoped though it would have been someone else...but that decision wasn't even on the agenda now. This was here and it was right in front of her, friendship, comradeship and possibly more. If only she could convince herself to reach out and take the chance and try and be normal for once.
##I don't want to look at fashion magazines,
While someone does my nails,
Sitting here watching other people live,
Frozen by their fear to fail##
"It's okay to show some emotion now and then Raven. No one's going to give you a hard time about it. I know you feel something for me. And, I just I want you to know that I feel for you too and if you ever need anyone..." he trailed off and ran a hand through his hair, "okay I'm not doing a good job of this. Look Raven I know that you like your privacy and you don't spend that much time with your friends but..." he broke off and frowned, "What I mean to say is...well what I want to say is..."
Raven watched him closely he seemed genuine enough. But was it really what she wanted? Did she really want to be courted like a normal girl would be? What if it didn't help? What if it made things worse? What if...what if...she suddenly realised that there were a lot of what ifs in her life. What if she just took a chance for once? The others would be amazed, but they would understand. Everyone needed someone at some time or another even if only for a little while.
Raven decided to take the chance for once. She reached out her own pale hand and grasped his, his skin felt warm under hers, she noticed that she was trembling but she couldn't stop now. "I know what you mean." She looked up determined to keep eye contact despite the heat spreading to her face, "And I think we should build something from that feeling." She cringed inwardly, her timidity would never allow her to do something this crazy, "We should try being together. See how that works out."
Aqualad stared at her gob smacked as if she had suddenly sprouted eleven heads and announced that she was the goddess of the ocean and that she would grant him three wishes if he would find a dancing eel. In other words he was looking at her with a very strange look on his face. "You want...you want us to be together as partners?"
"Um, yeah." She wondered if her suggestion hadn't been made clearly enough.
"I thought so." His other hand closed around hers, "Raven I have no idea what has brought on this sudden shift in your mood and emotions...but I am glad that it has occurred."
"Is that a yes?"
"That's a yes."
##Because everyday there's a war to fight,
But if I win or lose never mind,
As long as you're my shelter every night,
I used to cry against a wall,
But now I've got a shoulder I can lean on,
Swear to me you won't be gone##
They sat there in silence for a moment, "Sooo...." Said Aqualad looking out of the window, "What do we do now?"
"I have no clue." Raven looked to her left and saw the girl who had taken their order peeking out from the kitchen a cheeky grin on her face. When she noticed Raven's glare she gave her a thumbs up and disappeared into the back with a swish of her apron.
##I'm ready for the good times,
I'm ready for the good times,
Now that I'm not alone##